USA Grizzly Bear Hunts

Grizzly bears in areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park would be removed from the endangered species list under aproposal to be announced next week, officials said Thursday.

The Interior Department andthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to comment on the proposal, but acongressional official and a state government official who were each informedof the announcement confirmed the government's plan. Both spoke on condition ofanonymity because the proposal has not yet been made public.

Mike Volesky, a policyadviser to Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, said an announcement on grizzly bearswas planned, but he did not have details.

Federal wildlife officialsestimate that more than 600 grizzly bears live in the region surroundingYellowstone in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Those numbers represent asignificant recovery. Only 200 or 250 grizzlies were in that region in 1975,when grizzly bears in the lower 48 states were listed under the EndangeredSpecies Act.

If the grizzlies are removedfrom the list, the three states would assume management responsibilities fromfederal wildlife officials and have greater flexibility in dealing with bears.Stripping the bears of protection could eventually clear the way for hunting ofgrizzlies in that region.

If adopted, the proposalwould apply only to bears outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.Bears within the parks would remain federally protected.

Once the proposal isannounced, there would be a period of public comment, and it could be monthsbefore a final decision is made. A possible court battle could also delayefforts to remove federal protections.

Tom France, regionaldirector for the National Wildlife Federation, said his organization believesremoving bears from federal protection in the Yellowstone area is long overdue.

Chris Servheen, grizzly bearrecovery coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service, said he also supportedtaking bears off the list.

The bear population dwindledin the West early in the last century in large part because of hunting anddestruction of the animals' habitat. Some environmentalists say the bears stilldo not have adequate protections to ensure their long-term success.

"The agencies are in astate of denial about what's happening on the landscape," said Louisa Willcox,of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Grizzly habitat is beingthreatened by development, and the bears' food sources also are at risk, shesaid.